Rooney: I deserved to be dropped

Rooney was axed by Jose Mourinho and, in a searingly honest interview, the Three Lions ' captain accepted that he had played “very bad” and would not have picked himself.

United star Rooney , who turns 31 this month, confessed that he has lost some of his pace and his performance was so poor at Watford last month that he can understand Mourinho’s decision.

Wayne Rooney has admitted he deserved to be dropped after his display against Watford (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

Rooney said: “I knew the Watford game , I didn’t play well. I didn’t deserve to play the next game, I understood that. And the team have done well, so I have to bide my time and take my chance.

“I have had criticism a lot of times. Listen, I had a bad game at Watford. I played bad, I know that and I understand that. I think if he (Mourinho) was picking the next team on the back of that I understand not playing."

Herrera, who has played for Spain at Under-20, Under-21 and Under-23 levels, has been called up by Julen Lopetegui for the World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Albania, following the withdrawal of Bayern Munich's Javi Martinez.

Basque-born Herrera joins a squad where there are also question marks over the participation of Thiago Alcantara and Saul Niguez, both of whom are struggling with slight problems.

La Roja face Italy in Turin, before heading to Albania three days later.

Guedes, who is represented by Jorge Mendes, is seen as one of the most highly-rated prospects in Portuguese football right now.

And after committing his future to Benfica during the summer for this season, Guedes has been thrust front and centre in a new-look side.

Rather than playing out wide, Guedes has been lining up in a central role in the early part of the season, as coach Rui Vitoria looks to piece together a new-look side after seeing a host of players depart in the summer, including chief creator Nico Gaitan (Atletico) and all-action 18-year-old phenomenon Renato Sanches (Bayern).